Paid FMLA Bills Advance

Two of the three bills proposing a paid family & medical leave program were approved by the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee on Monday.

The two bills, Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 5003, were each approved by the committee by a vote of 27-21, mostly along party lines. It is noteworthy, though, that two freshman Democrats — Rep. Jill Barry of Glastonbury and Rep. Kerry Wood of Rocky Hill — voted against the bills, citing concerns that the numbers for the program do not add up. 

You can read about the vote here.

Six legislators from the Greater Waterbury delegation are members of the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee, including 5 Republicans and 1 Democrat. All 5 Republicans — Rep. Nicole Klarides Ditria of Ansonia, Rep. John Piscopo of Thomaston, Rep. Joe Polletta of Watertown, Sen. George Logan of Ansonia, Sen. Henri Martin of Bristol and Sen. Rob Sampson of Wolcott — all voted no.

The sixth member from the region — Rep. Larry Butler, D-Waterbury — was absent and did not vote. He has, however, previously stated his support for paid FMLA.

You can see the vote tally sheet for SB 1 here, and for HB 5003 here.

There are 7 weeks left in the legislative session, so it is urgent that business owners who have concerns about these bills contact legislators, either by phone or by email. Once again, here is the contact list for local legislators:

Rep. Larry Butler, D-72nd District (which includes the eastern & northern sections of Waterbury): Larry.Butler@cga.ct.gov; 860-245-8585
Rep. Stephanie Cummings, R-74th District (which includes the East Mountain area): Stephanie.Cummings@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700
Rep. Anthony D'Amelio, R-71st District (which includes the Town Plot area and a portion of Middlebury): anthony.damelio@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700
Rep. Ron Napoli Jr., D-73rd District (which includes the Bunker Hill area and western portion of Waterbury): ron.napoli@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8585
Rep. Geraldo Reyes Jr., D-75th District (which includes the Central Business District):
Geraldo.Reyes@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8585
Sen. Joan Hartley, D-15th District (Waterbury, Naugatuck, Prospect): Hartley@senatedems.ct.gov; 860-240-0006
Sen. Rob Sampson, D-16th District (Cheshire, Prospect, Southington, Waterbury, Wolcott); Rob.Sampson@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8800
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Rep. David Labriola, R-131st District (Naugatuck, Oxford, Southbury): David.Labriola@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700
Sen. George Logan, R-17th District (Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck, Woodbridge): George.Logan@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8800
Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-105th District (Beacon Falls, Derby, Seymour): 
Nicole.Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700
Rep. Rosa Rebimbas, R-70th District (Naugatuck): Rosa.Rebimbas@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700

Sen. Eric Berthel, R-32nd District (Watertown, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Middlebury, Oxford, Roxbury, Seymour, Southbury, Washington, Woodbury): Eric.Berthel@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8800
Rep. Joe Polletta, R-68th District (Watertown, Woodbury): joe.polletta@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700

Sen. Mary Abrams, D-13th District (Cheshire, Meriden, Middlefield, Mddletown):  
mary.abrams@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8800
Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-90th District (Cheshire, Wallingford): Craig.Fishbein@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700​
Rep. Liz Linehan, D-103rd District (Cheshire, Southington, Wallingford): liz.Linehan@cga.ct.gov; 
860-240-8585
Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-80th District (Southington, Wolcott): 
gale.mastrofrancesco@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700
Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, R-89th District (Bethany, Cheshire, Prospect): Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov; 
860-240-8700

Sen. Henri Martin, R-31st District (Bristol, Harwinton, Plainville, Plymouth, Thomaston):
Henri.Martin@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8800

Rep. Arthur O'Neill, R-69th District (Bridgewater, Roxbury, Southbury, Washington): 
arthur.oneill@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700

Rep. John Piscopo, R-76th District (Burlington, Harwinton, Litchfield and Thomaston):
john.piscopo@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700

Rep. David Wilson, R-66th District (Bethlehem, Litchfield, Morris, Warren, Woodbury):
David.Wilson@housegop.ct.gov; 860-240-8700